A new non-invasive test has been developed by doctors to help rule out womb cancer in women who experience bleeding after menopause. The test, which is described as simple and cheap, uses cells collected from urine and vaginal fluid samples.
Currently, women with postmenopausal bleeding are referred for urgent cancer investigation, though only about 5% to 10% of these women have an underlying cancer. Existing tests for womb cancer, such as internal ultrasound scans, biopsies, and hysteroscopies, are invasive and can be costly.
A study involving 1,864 women in north-west England assessed the new test. Of these women, 99 were diagnosed with womb cancer. The new test identified 80 of these cancers and gave a correct negative result for 93% of women who did not have womb cancer. The findings were published in the journal Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, & Women’s Health.
Researchers stated the test is not accurate enough to rule out cancer on its own. However, it could help to fast-track women at the highest risk for urgent investigation, potentially sparing lower-risk women from immediate invasive testing. It is not yet known if the same accuracy can be achieved in other settings, as samples in the study were assessed by highly trained specialist cytologists.